In August 2006, Australia and China's commitment to fostering the growth of sustainable and quality tourism was reinforced through the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Australian Government and the China National Tourism Administration on the China Approved Destination Status (ADS) Scheme.
In April 2011, this commitment was reaffirmed through the signing of a broader MoU between the two countries on strengthening tourism cooperation. The MoU is aimed at helping increase tourism flows and strengthening people-to-people links between the two countries. The MoU continues the ADS scheme whilst promoting cooperation in emerging travel segments such as individual, education and company paid incentive travel. The MoU also acknowledges other areas of cooperation including, industry supply-side development and supporting the safety of Chinese tourists in Australia.
Under the MoU, an annual Australia–China Tourism Dialogue will be held to report on the status of activities under the MoU and determine future areas of cooperation in the tourism sector. The dialogue will integrate the existing annual meeting between Australian and Chinese officials on the ADS scheme. The inaugural meeting of the Australia–China Tourism Dialogue was held in Cairns in June 2011, in conjunction with the Australia-China Tourism Summit. The next meeting will be held in China in 2012.
More information
For more information about the China Approved Destination Status scheme contact the ADS Executive Officer:
Phone: 1800 048 155
Email: ads@ret.gov.au
Fax: 02 6213 7070
Mail: GPO Box 1564, Canberra ACT 2601